Tag Archives: Margins

Commodity price increases, margin impact and choices

Posted on February 15, 2011 by aviyer2010

A Wall Street Journal article (14 February 2011) describes the impact of commodity price increases have driven down average operating margins – by $ 500 million for Kraft and $ 1 billion for Proctor & Gamble.  The focus on productivity … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Choices for Dollar Tree as Commodity prices rise

Posted on January 22, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (January 22,2011) describes the dilemma faced by Dollar Tree – a retailer that charges one dollar for products.  Dollar Tree provides an interesting example of a retailer for whom retail price is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Service Operations, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can “Buy American” Hurt US firms ?

Posted on January 12, 2011 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (September 16,2009) desribes the “Buy American” laws that are part of the US government’s stimulus package.  But companies whose supply chains include Canadian suppliers, like Aquarius, a manufacturer of sewage treatment equipment, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Nespresso Coffee pods

Posted on October 1, 2010 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (August 20) talks about Nespresso and its rivals and their legal struggles. Nespresso’s coffee machines generate profits through sales of the coffee pods. Rivals are trying to create generic versions of these coffee … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Contexts, Operations Management, Supply Chain Issues | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment